Explore records, photographs, and stories from the people and places that shaped our community.
Search Our DatabaseWelcome to the Benton County Historical Society & Museum
Preserving the stories, artifacts, and heritage of Benton County, Minnesota since 1949.
📅 Today in History
United States
• 1870 First section of Atlantic City (NJ) Boardwalk opens
• 1919 The first issue of NY Daily News published
Minnesota
• Minnesota covers 86,943 square miles.
• Minnesota has more common loons than any state except Alaska.
Benton County
• Jeremiah Russell arrived in 1849 to take charge of the American Fur Company trading post in Sauk Rapids.
• William A. Aitkin served as chairman of Benton County’s first board of commissioners.